Local News Briefs: Friday, July 11

Claremont — A city police department dispatcher is being held on $100,000 cash bail following his arraignment Thursday on two felony sex crime charges.

James Boisclair, 53, of Claremont was arraigned via video conference from the Sullivan County House of Corrections. He was arrested Wednesday after what state police described as a “brief investigation.”

Judge Edward Burke agreed with a request from Boisclair’s public defender, Jennifer Cohen of Keene, to hold a bail hearing today to allow time for her to speak with him. Burke presided also via video conference from the district court in Keene because a judge was not available in Claremont.

Boisclair did not enter a plea on the charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault charge and incest, and the court did not schedule a probable cause hearing. Burke ordered the affidavit on the arrest sealed. According to court documents, the alleged crimes occurred several years apart.

State Police Trooper Scott Ellis told Burke that more charges against Boisclair are expected in the case. He also said Boisclair threatened to kill the complainant in the case.

On Thursday, Burke ordered that Boisclair be transported to Cheshire County House of Corrections to meet with Cohen in prepartaion for today’s hearing.

Boisclair has been with the Claremont department for more than 15 years as a full-time dispatcher and has been placed on paid administrative leave, Claremont Police Chief Alex Scott said. Claremont Police are not part of the investigation, which is being handled by the Sullivan County Attorney’s Office.

Woman Pleads Guilty In Amber Alert Case

Bennington, Vt. — A Vermont woman who police say triggered an Amber Alert after she took her biological son to New Hampshire in January has pleaded guilty to a charge of custodial interference.

In exchange for the plea from 49-year-old Patricia Kane, of Manchester, Vt.,the state agreed to drop an unlawful restraint charge. She awaits sentencing.

Vermont State Police had issued an Amber Alert on a Monday after Zachary Lee was dropped off at his foster home by a school bus, but never made it inside.

Authorities say they later found the boy at the Lyme Inn after he, Kane and his sister ate at a restaurant in Hanover.

Prosecutors Granted Phone Access In Charlestown Murder Case

Newport — Prosecutors have been granted access to personal cellphone records in the case of a Vermont man accused of killing his wife in New Hampshire on the day she filed for divorce.

A Sullivan County Superior Court judge recently granted the state’s motions for access to records from a phone belonging to James Robarge of Saxtons River, his estranged wife, Kelly Robarge, and Richard Lucias, a friend of Kelly Robarge.

James Robarge’s lawyers objected to the state’s request, saying Robarge has consistently asserted his innocence.

Prosecutors said Kelly Robarge’s phones have not been found, but that other cellular data might provide the state with information to find a Tracfone she had.

Robarge was charged with first- and second-degree murder last year.

Box Truck Accident Closes Route 103 in Sunapee for 5 Hours

Sunapee — Route 103 was closed for almost 5 hours Thursday after the driver of a box truck fell asleep and drove off the road, splitting a utility pole and bringing wires down, Sunapee Police said.

William Reynolds, 41, of Lowell, Mass., was pinned between the seat and door of the truck after it tipped onto its side in the accident, which occurred around 8:15 a.m. near Trask Brook Road, according to a Sunapee Police press release.

He was taken to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center by helicopter with what police said appeared to be minor injuries, and a passenger was treated for minor injuries and released at the scene.

Police said Route 103 was reopened to traffic around 1 p.m. after the accident was cleared and wires repaired.

Reynolds was cited with operating with a suspended driver’s license and for some motor vehicle trucking violations, the release said.